Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-03-08
Negro Posaliar.s..

years the negro race has booD 9. ny
atiyely speaking, very closely ss''Ps
with the whites. II is d matss- 'seslat
prise and conjecture that tbs. = y
cling so tenaciously to thai, nay
characteristics, especially thos. e rssal'
ed with their religious ideas. ssaa's
and superstitions. ssao'
1t may seem an overdravr -.
yet it is strictly true one tbss ,ss'ens
inc darkey is never happ;sr 'ne sas
truly in his element than w.
the excitement of first class ~ <, y
A relative, friend or companio, laas
Ill Tor weeks and perhaps M
needed attentions from their as auef
but the moment it is known 81 I O.
sick creature is dying, me I'M suA
children flock in and aroma q
and set up a perfect "Bsbels ~ -
prayers and lamentations, add;pa !, w
horrors of the deathbed and ;as
ing the grief and excitement ~ 4. y
flicted household. = 'ae
For while when the grave.dect.,.
ure lies motionless with its foldsd aea
muiiled jaws and immense plats - uaaa,
On the body to keep down ths = -. sa
ing" there is hush and calm Z Ivy
dusky crowd and footfalls and = y
pered words betoken tina solsn..sl s
the hour; but this is only a Smo a! 4
lull, sure harbinger Of the exo;tsma s /
to come.
Could there possibly be a no.. !.
ting time for moral lesson = Y y
great mystery?" And it is selSo a. y !;
deed that our colored friends allo ,s. 4. y
opportunities to escape them. A 'as
aged seer of the plantation stand. -, - !
folded arms and bowed head and ~. .n
reverently at the still figure the,ss "a; !.
look of hushed expectancy on the III
faces of the gathered crowd. M, !.
they to be disappointed, for teua.,s
covering out Of sight the rigid featu,.'
of the dead the old man wipes as;a ;I
few stray tears and solemnly becins.
'Jis so, my sisters and brudders :.
mortals is boun' to pass away. Va a
here to-day; who knows whar We II; n
be tomorrow? Jis as you see dis boa "a,
a-lying here, jis so You is got to h. \
may be soon or it mout be late. but n
de same, you's boun' for to 20. :
"Dar amt no Citing ronu' dis An,
dey call def. De rich and de Door 4
high and de low mus all 90 de- sam.
way, and blissid be de man dat il reaa,
to 'ceibe de summons"
"Dat's de truff, brudder; dats a,
gospel" echo the crowd, and WAXING
eloquent the old brother continues:
ave go on from day to day in on,
sins, and we gifts so sot in der blief On
our own strength dat it pears like as i
we is gwine to lib on furebber, and
cherry day ole Satan he whispers as how
you amt no whar nigh def and whsf,
de use oh praying and den when you
leastways spects it dar is pain heab
and q pain dar and you is strucku
down on yer def bed. So, my deu
frens, says he on de watch and nebbe,
weary of watching, kase def is shurs
fur to fine you out. You is boun 70,
to pass outen dis life into dat res
eternurty. Man is like de grass in d
fiel-he is here to-day; tomorrow b
is cut down, and we can't in no wis
tell de hour or de day We is gwine flu
to be cut off.
"Dar you is rite. my brudder, den
am Gospel words you is said," and til
hushed awe is broken, tongues ar
loosed and the eager crowd gives itsel
up, mind, heart and body, to the en-
joyment of the occasion.
When you see the "dusky wards Q
our nation" at "sitting up" with
dead person of distinction among thei
own race you see them in all theirpom
and glory. The entire night is passe
in prayers, singing and shouting, ntel
spersed with violent walls and lamentl
lions from kith and kindred friend
The more bitter the grief the great
the delight of the assembly, and il
the burial the breaved mourners shou
be so overcome with grief and excit
ment as to lose consciousness the satI
faction is complete, and big. littl
young and old will affirm that 'dasv
sure fine funeral" and that "Mr !
Mrs. somebody would sures res go'
in his or her grade, kase de tuner
passed off so hansum."
81 can conceive of no greater VI
than for house servant to be DEM
the great privilege of attending iunf
al, and the expressed sympathy OF thC
more fortunate ones who witnessed
ceremonies is genuine indeed.
81 shure is sorry you couldn't
kase dat wus pinted good funerI
De folks wus site to behold, and
acted as fine as ladies and gene!ml
could ack. Dat youngest gal Us fain'
, plum away and it tuck two OF de Df'
ders to hole her sister. l clar TO go'
ness, couldn't tie me down IN de WI
folks house when dar wus such
funeral a-gwine on" and the grie'
, looks of your "help" will for days
, proach you for your cruelty.
. So for the sake of "sweet peac
, when there is to be funeral OF con
quence, I make very strenuous etiorp
so arrange my domestic affairs tha' :,
Dora" can take in the enloymeh,, U
| beginning to end, and am usually
warded by very beaming coun'eha
+ and the assurance that she "shure